Method and apparatus for coating cores



an. O J 1927 H. s. WALKER ET AL METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR COATING CORES Filed June 20 1922 17*? Ven'lfifs Howard 6.144201%)" 16977 IiMarclz nowaan eaonoz wanna. or mam, am) smear rnonas mncn, or carcaeo, rumors, nssmnons To wnsraax nnnc'rnrc courm, mcoarona'ran, or new You, H. Y., A- COB?OBAIION OFYNEWYYORK.

I amnion ANDYRPIAEKIUS FOB comma corms.

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This invention il ma o a and a method of and apparatus i e-1 ducing the same. p

The object of the invention istoproduce a core coated with a p'ulpous material attached to the core solely by an interming: ling of the fibres thereof and so treated that the said coating is impervious to moisture, and provide a method for producing the said coating.

Briefly described, the .method consists in bringing the core and-pulp into intimate relation in such manner-that pulp is applied to the core and retained thereon solely by an intermingling of the fibres thereof and then treating the said coating with a Water-.

' proofing material in such manner that the coating is rendered impervious to moisture. ,The present'method may be employed to advantage in the insulating of electrical conductors but it is to be understood that the invention is not-limited to this urpose but only in so far appended claims.

used for, insulating electrical conductors manila, wood, rag, cotton, esparto, jute, hemp, and asbestos-pulps may be employed as the coatingmaterial, but other materials than those specified maybe used without departingfrom the'spirit and scope of the present invention which contemplates in its broadest aspect the coating of any core with any pulp and then so treating the coating that it is impervious to moisture. I .The term core 1n strand form as used'm' the specification and appended claims, refers to a. core having a configuration resembling a fibre, hair, filament, string, small cord, or the like, or it may bev in the nature of a rope consisting of fibres, yarns, or

wires twisted together.

The wood fpulp as used in the specification and claims is to be understood as defining andincluding any cohering fibrous mass whether. suspended in a liquid, moist, or substantially dry..

.The" drawings illustrate the method as em loyed'for coatinga core in strand form and 1 regnating the said coating Wlt-h'fi m materia which will render it impervious to moisture, and disclose an apparatus for performing the method in which the pulpous material .is applied to the strand by the as is defined by the Where the method isshown in Fig. 1.

method and apparatus disclosed in our coending applications Serial No. 547,923, filed arch 29, 1922, and Serial No. 547,924, filed March 29, 1922 respeetively, two diff erent "apparatus being utilized for impregnating the coating applied to the strand, depending upon the character of the imlpregnant. Where a molten waxy or pitch like impregnant is employed, an apparatus which the coated strand is passed, and a heated oven through which the impregnated coating is drawn, the oven being maintained at a temperature to volatilize the solvent so that the waterproofing material alone is left on the coating.

Where the above method is employed for the insulating of electrical conductors, after the pulp coating has been treated so as to be impervious to moisture it may be served with a strand wrapping of cotton, linen, silk or other suitable material to form a protectioii for the coating, and to give the conductor a cleaner and more pleasing appearance. In the accompanying drawingsv Fig. 1 is a side elevation partly in sec- -method'- may be performed, where a molten wax or pitch like impregnant is employed.

plan view. of aportion of t e apparatus Fig, 3*is a vertical sectional view taken on thle'line of 3+3 ofFig. 2'.-

4 is a vertical sectional view showing an impregnating apparatus which may yed/when an impregnant is utilized which "comprises waterproofing material dissolved .in a volatile solvent.

tion showing an apparatus by which the The apparatus disclosed for performing the process is particularly adapted for coating cores in strand form but "it is to be understood that other apparatus may be devised for coating cores in other forms and still be within the scope of the present invention.

Referring now to the drawings in which like reference numerals designate similar parts throughout the several views. the core to be coated is fed from a supply over an idler roll 21 and thence around a drum 22 which is partially submerged in a liquid containing pulp within a semi-spherical trough 23. The drum 22 comprises a pair of sheet metal sides and a peripheral portion secured thereto which is provided with a plurality of relatively large perforations (not shown) which are covered with a narrow strip of fine wire mesh 27 (Fig. 2). The drum 22 has a centrally disposed tubular axle which is suitably mounted within bearings 29 carried by a framework 30 which supportsall of the elements of the apparatus.

In order to apply pulp to the core as it passes over the drum 22, the liquid within the drum is maintained at a lower level than that of the pulp mixture in the tank 23, as indicated by dotted lines A and B respectively. This difference in levels is maintained by a siphon 'pipe 31 which has its inlet opening submerged in the liquid within the drum 22 and its discharge through the tubular axle 28. A continuous circulation of the pulp mixture is maintained in the tank 23 by feeding the pulp mixture from a supply tank 32 intothe tank 23 and outvof the said tank through a pipe 19 into a receiving tank (not shown) from which it is pumped back into the supply tank 32 in any suitable manner. As the drum 22 carries the core thereon through the tank 23, the liquid in the tank will pass through the wire mesh 27, straining the pulp onto the outer surface of the wire and applying pulp to the core supported thereon. In order to keep the wire mesh clean prior to its reception of the core and anew coating of pulp, it is washed by a jet of water under pressure which is supplied through a nozzle 33.

The drum 22 is rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow. The core and coatin thereon leaves the drum at the top thereo and the force of gravity, surface tension of the liquid in the pulpmixture, and the felting action of the pulp fibers cause it to surround the core and cling to it in substantially the form shown in Fig. 6.

From the drum 22 the core with pulp applied thereon is passed over an auxiliary roll 34 and then between a pair ofsqueezing rolls 35 and 36. These three rolls are best shown in Fig. 2, and are rotatably mounted between a pair of brackets 37 secured to an upright? standard 38 supported by the framework 30. Suitable means (not shown) is provided for driving the roll 36. and this roll and the roll 35 preferably draw the core from the supply 20 over the drum 22, causing it to. rotate, and then between them.

The auxiliary roll 34 (Fig. 2) is a hollow sheet metal drum having a peripheral slot covered with a strip of fine wire mesh 42. It has been found preferable to employ the auxiliary roll 34 and to make it foraininous where it engages the core and pulp coating thereon in order that the free liquid, so to speak, may be strained ofi' away from the core and coating without causing a back flow of the liquid, which would tend to wash off the pulp coating which at' this stage of the process is very soft and moist and easily removed from the core. With the free liquid removed, the coating has greater strength, due to a closer felting of the fibers,

so that when the cord and coating are passed through the squeezing rolls the coating will not be torn from the core.

The squeezing rolls may be formed of rubber and forced together by any suitable tension means which is adjustable to present the proper pressure on the core and pulp coating as they pass between the rolls. These rolls remove the greater portion of the liquid from the pulp mixture and form the pulp into a thin ribbon which extends laterally from each side of the core, as is shown in Fig. 2. This squeezing operation also tends to mat or felt the fibers into more intimate relation, increase the tensile strength of the covering and attach it to the core. 7 From the squeezing rolls thecore with its ribbon pulp coating is drawn through a' former which wraps the projecting edges of the ribbons around the core and around each other, the appearance of the coating after the forming action is completed being shown in Fig. 3. The former causes a thorough intermingling of the pulp fibers and shapes the coating so that it embraces the core and conforms to the shape thereof.

\ The former comprises two cup-shaped col lars 43 and 44 held together and in spaced relation by means of rods 45. Integral with each of said collars 43 and 44 is a sleeve 46 and 46' respectively which are rotatably mounted with suitable hearings in standards 38 and another pair of standards 47 which are supported by the framework 30. Two plates 48 and 49 (Fig. 3) have projecting tongues which are bent around the rods 45 to pivolally support the plates in opposed relation to each other. Compression springs 50 engage the lower faces of each of the plates 48 and 49 and tend to force them to- "gether. The springs 50 are put under the rerequisite tension by means of adjustin screws 51. The ends of the plates 48 and through the sleeve 46.

The plates 48 and 49 are rapidly rotated around the core and the pulp coating thereon through the medium of a pulley 18 secured to the sleeve 46", .the said pulley being 1 driven by any suitable means (not shown).

The forming plates 48 and 49 wrap the projecting edges of the pulp ribbon about each other and around the core in much the same manner as though the core and pulp ribbon were rolled on a table top with the palm of the hand.

The core with its formed coating is drawn from the former and subjected to a'mechansm for drying the coating. The means shown for performing this operation are a pair of wide hollow drums 90 and 91 heated internally and having a plurality of grooves (not shown) which receive the core. guides (not shown) being provided for directing the core over first one drum and then the other until it has traversed all of the grooves of both drums. I

The core with its coating is drawn from the heating drums and subjected to apparatus for impregnating the coating to render it impervious to moisture. When a molten waxy or pitch like impregnant is utilized the apparatus shown in Fig. 1 may be employed. From the drying drums the coated core is passed over an idler roll 16 and then around a drum 17 which is partially submerged in a molten impregnant within a tank 52. The drum 17 is rotatably mounted within suitable bearings carried by the tank 52. The impregnating material may comp-rise a mixture of rosin, parafiin, beeswax and rosin oil but itis to be understood that various other molten solutionsmay be substituted without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

The material is kept in a molten state by means of a steam coil 53 submerged in a tank or by any other suitable heating means. After the coated core leaves the .drum 17 it is completely covered with the impregnant, surplus of said impregnant being wiped ofi ot' the coating by means of a die 54 or other suitable wiper. \Vhere a die is used it may he supported on an arm 55 carried by a standard 56 supported by the framework 30. It is desirable that the die 54 be main tained at a temperature approximating the melting point of: the impregnant and suitable means such as steam coils (not shown) may be employed to maintain the temperature'of the die at the proper degree. After leaving the die 54 the core is passed through a second die 57 or other suitable wiper, which is maintained at a temperature considerably below the 'melting. point of the impregnant and as a consequence the die 57 .serves to Where the above method is employed for insulating electrical conductors, after the pulp coating has been treated by the impregnating material to render itimpervious to moisture, it may be served with astrand wra ping of cotton, linen, silk or other sui able material to form a protection for the coatingand to give the conductor a cleaner and more pleasing appearance. The wrapping may be applied by a serving mechanism 60 which wraps astrandaround the pulp coating in a manner well known to those skilled in the art.

Where. the coated core is subjected to an impregnant which comprises waterproofing material dissolved in avolatile solvent the apparatus show rin Fig. 4 may be utilized. From the heating drums the coated strand is passed over an idler pulley 70 and around a drum 71 partially submerged in the impregnant within a tank 7 2., The impregnat- Eng material may comprise a waxy watersuch as turpentine, naphtha, gasolene, tetra- Various other water-- chloride or benzene.

roofing materials and volatile solvents may e employed, however, without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. The drum 71- is rotatably mounted in suitable bearings supported by the tank 72. Upon leaving the said tank the core,

with its said coating saturated with the im-' pregnating material, is passed upwardly through an oven 73, over an idler pulley74 supported therein then downwardly through the oven over an' idler pulley 75 and is thence stored on a take up reel 76 driven by any suitable means (not shown). The core may be passed up and down through the oven any number of times desired a single pass being illustrated merely for the sake of simplicity. The oven 73 may be heated bysteam coils 77 or any other suitable means. As the coated core passes through the oven the. volatile solvent of the imp'regnant evaporates so that the waterproofing alone is left in the coating.

\Vhere this method is employed for insulating electrical conductors after the pulp coating has been treated so as to be impervious to moisture it may be served witlp a. wrapping of cotton, linen or any other suitable material by'a strand server similar to the 1 server 60, the wrapping as previously stated ill , to cause it to be attached thereto by an intermingling of the fibers of the pulp and 11D )arting thereto a curved outer surface, ant treating the said coating in such manner as to render it impervious to moisture.-

2. A method of coating a core in strand t'orm, consisting in applying unfinished paper free of adhesive material to the core, subsequently completing the fabrication of the unfinished paper on the core to constitute a coating on the core in such a manner that it is retained thereon by the intermingling of the fibres and then treating said coating in such manner as to render it impervious to moisture. I g

3. A method ot-coating a core in stranded form, constituting in subjecting the core to a liquid containing pulp in such manner that pulp is applied thereto, and then treating the said coating in such manner as to render it impervious to moisture.

4. A method of coating a core in strand form, consisting in subjecting the core to a liquid containing pulp in such manner that pulp is applied thereto to produce a coating, removing excess moisture from the coating forming the said coating, and then treating the coating in such manner as to render it impervious to moisture.

5. A method of coating a core in strand form, consisting in applying a pulp ribbon to a core and wrapping the ribbon around the core to cause an intermingling of the fibers thereof to attach the pulp to the core, and then treating the said coating in such manner as to render it impervious to moisture.

6. A method of coating a core. consisting in subjecting the core to a liquid containing pulp in such manner that a ribbon of said pulp is applied to the core, wrapping the ribbon around the core to cause an intermingling of the fibers thereof to attach the pulp to the core, and then treatin the said coating in such manner as to render it impervious to moisture.

7. A method of coating 3. core in strand form with pulp, consisting in subjecting the core to a liquid containing pulp in such manner as to apply said pulp in the form of a ribbon longitudinally of the core, wrapping said ribbon laterally around the coreto cause an intermingling of the fibers thereof to attach the pulp to the core, and then treating the said coating in such manner as to render it impervious to moisture.

8. A method of coating a core in strand form, consisting in sub ectlng a continuously moving core to a liquid containing ulp in such manner as to cause the pulp bres to be attached thereto, and treating the said coating in such manner as to render it impervious to moisture.

9. A method of coating a core in strand form with pulp, consisting in subjecting a continuouslymoving core toi a liquid containing pulp in such manner that a pulp ribbon is attached to the core, wrapping said ribbonaround the core to constitute a coating therefor, and treating the said coating in such manner as to render it impervious to moisture.

10. A method of coating a core in strand form, consisting in applying a wet pulpous mixture to a continuously moving core in such manner as to cause the pulp to be attached thereto solely by an intermingling of the pulp fibers, and treating the said coating in such manner as to render it impervious to moisture.

11. A method of coating a core in strand form, consisting in subjecting the core to a pulp in such manner that ulp is attached thereto solely by a felting of the pulp fibers, and impregnating the said coating with a material to render it impervious to moisture.

12. A method of coating a core in strand form, consisting in subjecting the core to a liquid containing ,pulp in such mannner.

that pulp is applied thereto to form a coating, so treating the pulp coating that it is attached to the core and has a substantially circular outer surface, and then impreg nating the said coating with a material to render it impervious to moisture.

13. A method of coating a core in strand form, consisting in subjecting the core to a pulp in such manner that pulp is applied thereto and attached by a felting of the pulp fibers, and then impregnating the said coating with a molten organic Water-proofing compound to render it impervious to moisture.

14. A method of coating a core in strand form, consisting in subjecting the core to a pulp in such manner that pulp is applied thereto by a. felting of the pulp fibers, im-

re natin the coated core with a water proofing material, and then wiping the excess material from the said coating.

15. A method of coating :1 core, consisting in subjecting the core to a liquid containing pulp in such manner that pulp is applied thereto, impregnating the coated core with a molten waterproofing compound, and then cooling the said coating to cause a solidification of said impregnating material.

16 A method of coating a core in strand form, consisting in subjecting the core to a pulp in such manner that pulp is applied thereto, passing the coated core through a bath of waterproofing material, removing excess waterproofing material from the coated core in the presence of heat, and then cooling said coating to cause a solidification of said waterproofing material.

17. A method of coating a core, consisting in subjecting the core to a pulp in such manner that pulp is applied thereto, passing the said coated core through a bath of impregnating material, drawing the said coated core through a heated die to remove excess impregnating material, and then cooling said coating to cause a solidification of said impregnating material.

18. A method of coating a core, consisting in subjecting the core to a pulp in such manner that pulp is applied thereto, passing the said coated core through a bath of impregnating material, drawing the said coated core through a heated die to remove excess impregnating material, and then drawing said coating through a chilled die to cause a solidification of said impregnating material.

19. A method of coating a core in strand form, consisting in subjecting the core to a pulp in such manner that pulp is applied thereto, treating the coating in such manner as to render it impervious to moisture, and then serving a strand wrapping around said coating.

20. A method of coating a core in strand form, consisting in subjectin the core to a liquid containing pulp in su manner that pulp. is applied thereto, treating the coating in such manner as to render it impervious to moisture, and then serving a strand wrapping around said coating,

21. A method of coating a core in strand form, consisting in subjecting the core to a pulpin such manner that pulp is a plied to the core and attached thereto by a Ba ting of the pulp fibers, treating the coating in such manner as to render it impervious to moisture, and then serving a strand wrapping around saidcoating.

22. A method of coating a core in strand form, consisting in subjecting the core to a pulp in such manner that plulp is applied thereto, and impre ating t e said coating with a waterproo g material suspended in a volatile fluid- 23. A method of coating a core in strand form, consisting in subjecting the core to a pulp in such manner that pulp is applied thereto, impregnating the pulp with a 'waterproofin material suspended in a volatile fluid, an then s ub'ecting the impregnated coating to heat o suflicient temperature tocause the volatilization of said fluid.

24. A method of coating 9. core, consisting in subjecting the core to a pulp in such manner that pulp is applied thereto to form a coating, so treating the said coating that it is attached to the core and conforms to the shape thereof, impregnating the said coating with a waterproofing material suspended in a volatile fluid, sub ecting the said impregnated coating to heat of sufiicient temperature to cause a volatilization of said fluid and then serving a strand wrapping around the said coating.

25. In a machine for coating :1 core in strand form with pulp, a receptacle holding a supply of liquid containing pulp, means for causing relative movement between the core and the liquid whereby pulp is applied to the core, and means for applying waterproofing material to said coating.

'26. In a machine for coating a core in strand form with pulp, a receptacle holding a supply of liquid containing ulp, means for causing relative movement etween the core and liquid whereby pulp is applied to the'core, means for forming the said pulp so that it conforms with the shape of the core, and means for applying Waterproofing material to said coating.

27. In a machine for coating a core in strand form with pulp, a receptacle holding a supply of liquid containing pulp, means for causing relative movement between the core and liquid whereby pulp is applied to the core to form a coating, means for removing a portion of the liquid from the pulp on the core, means for forming said pulp so that it conforms with the shape of the core, means for removing the remaining moisture from the coating, and means for applying waterproofing material to said coating. 7

28. In a machine for coating a core with pulp, a foraminous carrier for the core, a receptacle holding a supply of liquid containing P p ment between the said carrier and the liquid whereby pulp is strained onto the said core,

means for causing relative moveand means for applying waterproofing material to said coating.

29. In a machine for coatin a core with pulp, means for subjecting t e core to a wet pulp whereby pulp is applied thereto, means for applying pressure to the pulp, means for forming the pulp so that it conforms with the shape of the core, and means for applying waterproofing material to said coating.

30. n a machine for coating a core with pulp, a receptacle holding a supply of liquid containing pulp, means for bringing the core and said liquid into intimate contact and causing a relative movement between the core and pulp whereby pulp is applied to the core, a former for shaping the pulp so that it conforms with the contour of the core, said former comprising rotating members engaging the pulp coating, and means for applying waterproofing material to said coatin 31. In a machine for coating a core in stra nd form with pulp, means for attaching I a wet pulpous ribbon to the core, means for forming said ribbon on the core to constitute a coating conforming with the shape of the core, and means for applying waterproofing material to said coating. I

32. In a machine for coating a core in strand form with pulp, means for attaching a wet pulpous ribbon to the core longitudinally thereof, means for wrapping said ribbon around the core to constitute a coating therefor, and means for applying Waterproofing material to said coating.

33. In a machine for coating a core in strand form with pulp, a receptacle holding a supply of pulp, means for causing relative movement between the pulp and the core whereby pulp is applied to the core, means for fabricating the pulp into ribbon form, means for wrapping said pulp ribbon around the core, and means for applying waterproofing material to said coating.

34. In a machine for coating a core with pulp, a receptacle containing pulp, means for causin relative movement between the pulp and the core whereby pulp is applied to the core,-.means for fabricating the pulp into ribbon form, means disposed in engagement with said pulp ribbon, means for causing relative lateral movement between said means and the core to wrap the ribbon around the core, and means for applying water roofing material to said coating.

35. n a machine for coating a core with pulp, a receptacle holding a supply of liquid containing pulp, a squeezing mechanism, a former, a waterproofing device and means for drawing the core into contact with the liquid and then through the squeezing mechanism and former, and waterproofing devlce.

36. In a machine for coating a core with pulp, a receptacle holding a supply of liquid containing pulp, a carrier having a foraminous portion and mounted in contact'with said liquid, a squeezing device, a forming device, a drying mechanism, a waterproofing device and means for submitting said core to said carrier, squeezing device, forming device, drying mechanism, and said waterproofing device.

37. In a machine for coating a core with pulp, a receptacle holding a supply of liquid containing pulp, means for causing relative movement between the core and the l'quid whereby a deposit of pulp is formed on the core, a strand serving mechanism, means for causing the core to pass through said serving mechanism, and means for applying water proofing material to said coating.

38. Ina mechanism for coating a core, in combination a tank containing a mixture of pulp, a drum rotatable therein and provided with a foraminous portion on its periphery adapted to support the core to be coated, means for maintaining a lower pressure within the drum than within the tank to cause a flow from the tank through the foraminous portion of the drum whereby the pulp will be strained onto the core, and means for applying waterproofing material to said coating. I

In witness whereof, we hereunto subscribe our names this 13 day of June, A. D. 1922.

HOWARD GEORGE WALKER. ALBERT THOMAS MARCH. 

